Kevin Williams (wide receiver, born 1971)

Last updated

Kevin Williams
No. 85, 82
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1971-01-25) January 25, 1971 (age 53)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school: Franklin D. Roosevelt (Dallas)
College: Miami (FL)
NFL draft: 1993  / round: 2 / pick: 46
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:121
Receptions:178
Receiving yards:2,314
Receiving Touchdowns:7
Player stats at PFR

Kevin Ray Williams, Jr. (born January 25, 1971) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, earning first-team All-American honors in 1991.

Contents

Early life

Williams attended Franklin D. Roosevelt High School (Dallas), where he averaged 17.1 yards every time he touched the ball. As a senior in 1988, he split time between running back and wide receiver, tallying 100 carries for 995 yards, 10 rushing touchdowns, 36 receptions for 757 yards, 3 punt returns for touchdown and 2 kickoff returns for touchdown.[ citation needed ]

He finished his high school career with 111 receptions for 1,997 yards (17.9-yard average), 117 carries for 1,339 rushing yards (11.4-yard average), 21 receiving touchdowns, 14 rushing touchdowns and 10 return touchdowns. He averaged 25.6 yards per kickoff returns and 33.2 yards per punt return.[ citation needed ]

College career

Williams accepted a football scholarship from the University of Miami, where he was the fastest player (4.28 seconds in the 40 yards) in some of college football most talented teams. [1] As a redshirt freshman in 1990, he was the team's kickoff and punt returner. He registered 10 kickoff returns for 231 yards (23.1-yard average), 13 punt returns for 177 yards (13.6-yard average) and 4 receptions for 64 yards. [2]

As a sophomore, he had a breakout season, posting 1,183 all-purpose yards, 36 punt returns for 560 yards (15.6-yard average) and 3 touchdowns, 10 kickoff returns for 185 yards (18.5-yard average), 21 receptions for 330 yards and 3 touchdowns. He had 3 consecutive games with punt returns for touchdowns, setting a school record and one shy of the NCAA record. Against Penn State University, he totaled 217 return yards (152 yards in punt returns) on seven attempts, including a 91-yard punt return for a touchdown (school record). [2]

He was named the Big East special teams player of the year and received first-team All-American and All-Big East honors. [3] He was a part of the Hurricane's 1991 National Championship team. [4]

As a junior, he struggled with ankle and knee injuries, including the fact that several opponents chose not to kick to him. He recorded 29 punt returns for 302 yards (10.4-yard average), 4 kickoff returns for 82 yards (20.5-yard average), 40 receptions (fourth on the team) for 457 yards, 2 receiving touchdowns and a 68-yard pass completion for a touchdown. He declared for the NFL Draft after the season. [2]

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

In the 1993 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys traded their first-round draft choice (#29-George Teague) and fourth-round pick (#112-Al Fontenot) to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for two second-round picks (#46 and #54-Darrin Smith) and a fourth-round draft choice (#94-Derrick Lassic). The Cowboys selected Williams with their first choice in the second round. [5]

As a rookie, he had a 10.5-yard punt return average (third in the NFC) and a 22.2-yard kickoff return average (sixth in the NFC). His best moment came in the infamous Leon Lett Thanksgiving game against the Miami Dolphins, where he scored all of the team's points (except the conversions) on a 4-yard reception and a 64-yard punt return. [6]

In 1994, his 26.7-yard kickoff return average ranked fourth in the NFL and was the third highest single-season average in club history. He ranked sixth in the NFC with an 8.9-yard punt return average. He became the first player in franchise history to score a touchdown on a punt and a kickoff return in the same season. He set a team record for combined kickoff and punt return yardage (1,497), breaking Mel Renfro's 1964 mark of 1,435 yards. He also became the all-time team leader in combined touchdowns scored on kickoff and punt returns with 4. He was the first player in team history to score off a kickoff and a punt return in the same season. Also the first player to score career touchdowns on punt returns, kickoff, receiving and rushing. [7]

In 1995, he received the opportunity as the starting wide receiver opposite to Michael Irvin after the departure of Alvin Harper, but never became the consistent big play complement that was expected from him. He had 38 receptions for 613 yards, 2 touchdowns and ranked sixth in the NFC with a 22.6-yard kickoff return average. Against the Arizona Cardinals, he set a club record with 307 combined net yards and had the sixth best single-game receiving total in franchise history at the time, with 203 yards, adding two touchdown receptions of 25 and 48 yards. [8] Against the San Francisco 49ers, he became the team's record holder for career kickoff return yards and combined kickoff/punt return yards. He set the franchise single-season record for kickoff returns with 49.

In 1996, he was limited to only 10 games with a broken foot suffered in a 10-7 loss against the Buffalo Bills. He finished with 27 receptions for 323 yards and one touchdown. In 1997, he decided to leave the team via free agency, after Anthony Miller was signed to take over the second receiver role.

Williams speed and return abilities were always valued during his time with the Cowboys, setting the franchise career records for number of kickoff returns (144), number of combined returns (239) and kickoff return yards (3,4616) in just four seasons.

Arizona Cardinals

On July 15, 1997, he signed a one-year contract as a free agent with the Arizona Cardinals, where he played special teams and was a backup wide receiver. [9] His 59 kickoff returns for 1,458 yards set a team single-season record and he also set a team record against the Atlanta Falcons with 207 kickoff return yards in a game. [10]

His biggest offensive contribution came in week 15 versus the New Orleans Saints, where he racked 4 catches for 54 yards. He tied for fourth on the team with 20 receptions for 273 yards and one touchdown.

Buffalo Bills

On February 13, 1998, he signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills. He was third on the team with 29 receptions for 392 yards and one touchdown, while also being the team's kickoff and punt returner.

In 1999, he tied for fourth on the team with 31 receptions for 381 yards, while also being the team's kickoff and punt returner. He was released on April 14, 2000.

San Francisco 49ers

On July 18, 2000, he was signed by the San Francisco 49ers to be the punt and kickoff returner. [11] He wasn't re-signed after the season. He finished his career with 178 receptions for 2,314 yards and 7 touchdowns, 167 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, 7,309 kickoff return yards with 1 touchdown and 2,295 yards and 3 touchdowns on punt returns. He gained a total of 12,085 all purpose yards.

NFL career statistics

Receiving Stats [12]

YearTeamGPRecYdsAvgLngTDFDFumLost
1993 DAL 16201517.6332600
1994 DAL 151318113.9290700
1995 DAL 163861316.14823200
1996 DAL 102732312.03112000
1997 ARI 162027313.73111500
1998 BUF 162939213.55511811
1999 BUF 163138112.33502000
Career1211782,31413.055711811
Legend
Led the league
BoldCareer high

Return Stats

YearTeamGPPRYdsTDFCLngKRYdsTDFCLng
1993 DAL 163638121464316890049
1994 DAL 153934911383431,1481087
1995 DAL 161816601530491,1080043
1996 DAL 10217009214710039
1997 ARI 164046201550591,4580063
1998 BUF 163736901173471,0590046
1999 BUF 163333101727428400062
2000 SF 162622001325305360033
Career1212312,295398833227,3091087

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XXIX</span> 1995 edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XXIX was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion San Diego Chargers and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion San Francisco 49ers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1994 season. The 49ers defeated the Chargers by the score of 49–26, becoming the first team to win five Super Bowl championships. The game was played on January 29, 1995, at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida.

Patrick Jamel Crayton is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and the San Diego Chargers. He played college football at Northwestern Oklahoma State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen Rossum</span> American football player (born 1975)

Allen Bonshaca Lamont Rossum is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arnaz Battle</span> American football player (born 1980)

Arnaz Jerome Battle is a former American football wide receiver. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL draft. He played college football at Notre Dame. Battle also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is the son of former NFL tight end Ron Battle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971–72 NFL playoffs</span> American football tournament

The National Football League playoffs for the 1971 season began on December 25, 1971. The postseason tournament concluded with the Dallas Cowboys defeating the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI, 24–3, on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Metcalf</span> American football player (born 1968)

Eric Quinn Metcalf is an American former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins and Green Bay Packers. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection for the Browns and the Chargers. He was also the 1988 US Track and Field Champion in the long jump and a two-time NCAA Champion in the same event at Texas. His father Terry was a running back for the St. Louis Cardinals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Carter (American football)</span> American football player (born 1960)

Anthony “AC” Carter is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 13 years in the United States Football League (USFL) and National Football League (NFL). He made three-consecutive Pro Bowls for the Minnesota Vikings and was honored by Minnesota as one of the 50 Greatest Vikings of all time. Carter played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, finishing his career as a three-time All-American, and a two-time unanimous All-American selection. He is currently third all-time in receiving yards, and second all-time in receiving touchdowns for the University of Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devin Hester</span> American football player (born 1982)

Devin Devorris Hester Sr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). The only primary return specialist to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he is widely considered to be the greatest return specialist of all time. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, where he was the first player in the university's recent history to play in all three phases of American football: offense, defense and special teams. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft. Hester also played for the Atlanta Falcons, the Baltimore Ravens and the Seattle Seahawks over his 11-season NFL career. He is also the only player to return the opening kick of a Super Bowl for a touchdown. Hester was selected to the NFL All-Decade Team for both the 2000s and 2010s.

Reginald "Reggie" Terrell Swinton is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals. He played college football at Murray State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Ginn Jr.</span> American football player (born 1985)

Theodore Ginn Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, and Chicago Bears.

Kelvin Brian Martin is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 1987 NFL draft. He won Super Bowl XXVII with the Cowboys against the Buffalo Bills, giving him his only Super Bowl title. He played college football for the Boston College Eagles before playing ten seasons in the NFL from 1987 to 1996 for the Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, and Philadelphia Eagles.

Vincent Joseph Sutherland is an American former professional football player who played wide receiver for two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears. He was a standout receiver and kick returner for Purdue University from 1997-2000. He also played for the Arena Football League (AFL)'s New York Dragons. At the time of his graduation in 2001, his 13 receiving touchdowns were a school record for one season. That record was tied in 2002 by John Standeford, and broken in 2004 by Taylor Stubblefield. He also still holds school records for punt return average in a season, punt returns for touchdowns in a season/career, and the longest reception in Purdue history.

Wane Keith McGarity is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwayne Harris</span> American football player (born 1987)

Dwayne Lenard Harris is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tavon Austin</span> American football player (born 1990)

Tavon Wesley Austin is an American former professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers, receiving first-team All-American honors twice and was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordarrelle Patterson</span> American football player (born 1991)

Cordarrelle Patterson, nicknamed "Flash", is an American professional football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). A versatile utility player, he plays running back, wide receiver, return specialist, and occasionally on defense. Patterson played college football for the Hutchinson Blue Dragons before transferring to the Tennessee Volunteers, where he earned first-team All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, and the Atlanta Falcons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cedrick Wilson Jr.</span> American football player (born 1995)

Cedrick Wilson Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Boise State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Pollard</span> American football player (born 1997)

Tony Randall Pollard is an American professional football running back for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Memphis, and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeeJay Dallas</span> American football player (born 1998)

Demetrius "DeeJay" Dallas, Jr. is an American professional football running back and return specialist for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KaVontae Turpin</span> American football player (born 1996)

KaVontae Lamon Turpin is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at TCU.

References

  1. ↑ "Williams Big Play Man For Hurricanes" . Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "Kevin Williams College Stats | College Football at Sports-Reference.com". Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Hurricanes Football: All-Americans (1990-99)" . Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  4. ↑ "1991 Miami (FL) Hurricanes Roster". Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  5. ↑ "1993 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Lett's blunder lifts Miami to win over Cowboys" . Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Ex-Cowboy brightens Cardinals' special teams" . Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Cowboys secure home-field advantage" . Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Vikings Re-Sign McDaniel, Add Ex-Bear Green To Backfield" . Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Cardinals in market for speedy wide receiver" . Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  11. ↑ "49ers Sign Four on Busy Day Off Field / Three draft picks, free agent in fold" . Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Kevin R. Williams Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.